172 THE SPIRIT OF THE SOIL 



Fortunately it is a simple matter for the farmer, 

 even if he is no chemist, to determine for himself by 

 a simple test whether or not the land is sufficiently 

 limed. To find out whether there is a sufficiency of 

 lime or not in a field, handfuls of soil should be taken 

 haphazard from all parts of the field. These should 

 be well mixed together, and a wineglassful of the 

 mixture should be poured into a tumbler, and the 

 tumbler three parts filled with water. A teaspoon- 

 ful of spirits of salts (Hydrochloric acid) should be 

 poured into the water, and if a sufficiency of lime is 

 present bubbles will be liberated in the same sort 

 of way that occurs when soda-water is poured out 

 from a soda-water syphon. If the water does not 

 bubble freely, there is a deficiency of lime in the 

 soil, and this must be made good before either 

 humogen can be usefully applied, or the land yield 

 a satisfactory crop. In some soils not greatly 

 deficient in lime basic slag may be used as a 

 substitute. 



When humogen is required for field work on the 

 principles of intensive culture that obtain in market 

 gardens as contrasted with farm work, it should 

 be used in the proportion of 10 cwt. to the acre. 

 It should be spread over the ground, and then 

 ploughed or dug in so as to be well mixed with 

 the soil, and to lie some 3 to 6 inches below the level 

 of the ground. So far as possible it should be applied 

 a fortnight or three weeks before using the ground. 

 That single application should be all the treatment 

 required in the course of the year. In the event of 

 it not being possible to put on the humogen at the 



